#Title

Resolve political crisis
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votes were cast “the night before the election day”, he said.
“We are in fear about the coming election…. Will all political parties be able to take part? Will voters be able to cast their vote freely?
“We have created a situation that allows many foreign countries to make comments about the polls in Bangladesh. Different states are looking at us. If we fail, we will pay for it.”
Former ambassador Humayun Kabir said people expect an inclusive and competitive election that is free from influence of money and muscles.
Local government expert Tofail Ahmed said the ruling party had already started electioneering while police and administration officials sought votes in violation of the service rules.
Former secretary Abu Alam Shahid Khan said, “The Election Commission will have to shoulder the liability if the election is not participatory.”
But the reality is, the EC cannot hold a “good election unless the government wants it”.
Prothom Alo Joint Editor Sohrab Hassan said a major challenge facing the EC is getting the parties to take part. “The commission should urge the government to create a situation conducive for participation of all parties.”
Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shyamal Dutta said, “People have lost faith in the Election Commission over the years…. Minority communities are the worst victims of election-time violence. It is important to gain confidence within one’s own country first.”
Journalists Kazi Abdul Hannan and Mahbub Kamal observed that free and fair elections cannot be held under a partisan government.
But Jatiya Press Club President Farida Yasmin said if the EC worked with confidence and integrity, a fair election was possible even under a partisan government.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said, “Different kinds of crises are present…. I have been saying it repeatedly. If politicians do not create a conducive environment for us, it will be difficult for us to hold elections.”
The political parties do not sit together “due to a sharp division in their stances”, he added.
Regarding expert observations that the latest amendment to the Representation of the People Order has curtailed the EC’s power, Habibul said the commission’s power had actually increased.
“Many have said the Election Commission signed a paper to make one party the winner. These are not true at all… The commission is not working to make any particular party the winner.”

US worried
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need to be able to make the public aware of the issues that they face in their daily lives.”
The media needs to ensure accountability of elected representatives, he said.
About the conversation between US President Joe Biden and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Deli on September 9, he said, “I believe the White House did make public the meetings that the president had with other leaders.”
Earlier on on September 7, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during a joint media briefing with Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka, said Moscow would prevent any attempt to establish dictates and interference by the US and its allies in this region.
About this, Miller said Russia, a country that has invaded two of its neighbours and bombs schools and hospitals and apartment buildings on a daily basis, should not be talking about any other country imposing dictates.
“It’s not the most self-aware comment that Sergey Lavrov has ever made. But I would say that with respect to United States policy, that the United States and Bangladesh share a vision to ensure the Indo-Pacific region is free and open, connected, prosperous, secure, and resilient. That’s the intent of our Indo-Pacific strategy and that is our position.”